Arman
Tsarukyan believes Charles
Oliveira never wanted their rematch.
Tsarukyan was rumored to be booked against Oliveira on Sept. 19 in
Los Angeles, but the matchup was scrapped before the
Ultimate Fighting Championship officially announced the card.
He will instead meet surging Brazilian contender Mauricio
Ruffy at UFC
331.
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Arman Tsarukyan believes Charles Oliveira preferred a potential
Diego Lopes fight
Tsarukyan questioned Oliveira’s withdrawal during a recent
interview, saying the UFC told him the Brazilian needed time away
from training following the recent death of his longtime
Chute Boxe teammate, Alan Nascimento.
“I was supposed to be fighting Charles
Oliveira in the co-main event, five rounds, when I was in the
mountains they called me and said ‘We’ve got a new name for you,’”
Tsarukyan told Ariel Helwani. “I said, ‘No problem.’ [The reason
the UFC gave for the withdrawal] was because Charles’ friend died
and he cannot train. But I don’t understand, in three or four days
he’s doing live streaming and back in camp.”
Tsarukyan believes Oliveira is now pivoting towards Diego
Lopes.
“They probably already set up a fight with Diego Lopes,” Tsarukyan
added. “[Oliveira] was just finding an excuse and now he’s found
the excuse. But he could beat me and dedicate the victory to his
friend. Of course, fight me or Diego Lopes? Of course, he would
choose Diego Lopes.”
Tsarukyan beat Oliveira in a three-round bout at UFC
300 via split decision, with many claiming the latter deserved
the judges’ nod on the night